Statistics

#1 Worldwide, gonorrhea is among the most common sexually transmitted infections, with an estimated 80 million new cases every year. STDs are infections which spread through sex (oral, vaginal, or anal).

#2 In 2015, there were over 390,000 reported cases of gonorrhea in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

#3 It is the 2nd most common STD reported to the U.S. government behind chlamydia. While chlamydia and gonorrhea are both sexually transmitted bacterial infections, they are caused by different bacteria.

#4 In Canada, around 13,000 cases of gonorrhea are reported every year.

#5 The number of gonorrhea cases is rising in many countries, and an increasing proportion of cases are multidrug-resistant. In the US, rates of gonorrhea have been rising, partly due to an increasing number of infections seen in men having sex with men and also due to changes in testing methods which are picking up more cases.

#6 Due to the spread of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea, CDC has declared this STD one of the top urgent medical threats.

Icd 10

A54.9

Causes

#7 This sexually transmitted disease is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. The human body responses to the bacteria by producing an army of leucocytes, creating a yellowish fluid.

#14 For pregnant women, this sexually transmitted disease can raise the risk of:

low birth weight;

miscarriage.

#15 Important note – since it can cause such serious health conditions, it is essential that you tell your recent sexual partners about your gonorrhea infection. Also, a past gonorrhea infection does not make you immune to another gonorrhea infection. More importantly, previous infections may allow serious complications to occur more rapidly.

Diagnosis

#16 This sexually transmitted disease is identified using swabs taken from a woman’s cervix or a man’s urethra or a urine test.

#17 Newer molecular tests like PCR tests on urine in a pathology laboratory may be used to screen individuals with no symptoms.

Treatment

#18 In uncomplicated cases, the treatment consists of a single dose of a medication like:

cefixime (a third-generation cephalosporin), a pill, plus a dose of oral azithromycin (a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic with a long half-life);

ceftriaxone injected into the muscle.

#19 All sexual partners from the past 60 days require treatment too, even if they don’t have signs of the sexually transmitted disease. Also, do not have sex until your healthcare professional tells both you and your partner that your infections are gone.

#20 Ciprofloxacin was used to combat this STD. However, in 2007, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped recommending its use.

#21 Important note – if you are pregnant and have gonorrhea, ask your healthcare professional about medicines that will not hurt the developing fetus.

Prognosis

#22 For men, the prognosis is good if they follow a treatment. Sometimes, a man with untreated gonorrhea could get a bad infection which may cause scarring of the tubes which transport sperm.

You may also like

Plasma is the liquid part of blood, containing about 92 percent water as well as essential proteins and antibodies that help fight infections. The protein found in the highest concentration in plasma is albumin, a...

List Of 26 Famous People With Mental Illness: #1 Kristen Bell (anxiety & depression) Actress Kristen Bell is known for her upbeat personality, however, she has struggled with anxiety and depression her whole...

Stasis dermatitis (SD), also known as venous eczema, is skin irritation and breakdown due to the fluid accumulating under the skin. SD typically affects the lower legs, and sores may develop. This condition usually...

Turner syndrome, also known as monosomy X, 45X or Ullrich-Turner syndrome, is a chromosomal disorder which occurs due to complete or partial monosomy for the X chromosome which results in ovarian failure and short...

ADHD is a chronic condition which can have a serious impact on the lives of affected children and parents. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder includes a combination of persistent problems, like – difficulty...

A pilonidal cyst is an abnormal pocket in the skin which typically contains skin and hair debris. A pilonidal cyst is more common in males than in females and resembles a large pimple. Also, it is more common in...

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by a spirochete called Treponema pallidum. About 60% of cases affect men who have sex with men or with both women and men, according to the Centers for Disease...

Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a condition which causes an individual to make involuntary movements and sounds called tics. This neurological disorder most commonly begins between the ages of 5 and 18 and lasts...

Vitiligo is a condition that is believed to be primarily autoimmune in nature and is characterized by loss of pigment cells. It can develop on any part of the body, including the eyes, the mucous membranes (moist lining...

Lipids represent a term for a large number of compounds, including fats, oils, and phospholipids, that together share the unifying trait of being hydrophobic (hydrophobic means “water-hating”). Despite their...

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It can cause serious health sequelae if not adequately treated. Check out our 38 interesting facts...

Sickle cell anemia, also known as sickle cell disease, is an inherited blood disorder which causes periodic episodes of pain, chronic anemia, and other complications. People of sub-Saharan African descent are most...

Atherosclerosis is a generic term which refers to the hardening and thickening of the arteries – the blood vessels which bear the full force of each heartbeat. The most common locations for atherosclerosis are:...

All content, including text, images, graphics, and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only. Our content does not constitute a medical consultation. Consult a medical practitioner for health problems.